Expandable needle suture apparatus and associated handle assembly

Abstract

A surgical suturing device having an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end is operable to move a suture through body tissue. An actuating rod extends between the handle assembly and the shaft. A needle assembly at the distal end of the actuating rod is movable with the actuating rod between an extended state and a retracted state. Bifurcated portions of the needle assembly define a suture slot, the bifurcated portions have a proximate relationship when the needle assembly is in the retracted state and having a separated relationship when the needle assembly is in the extended state. The needle assembly is biased to the retracted state and the bifurcated portions are biased to the separated relationship. A handle assembly is configured to releasably receive the needle assembly and is operable to move the needle assembly between a free suture state and a captured suture state.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for placing suture across a body wall of a patient, comprising the steps of:
 providing a suture device including a hollow shaft with a proximal end and a blunt distal end and an elongated axis, an actuating rod disposed in the hollow shaft and slidably movable along the elongated axis of the hollow shaft between a proximal position and a distal position, and a slidable needle assembly carried by the actuating rod and slidably movable between a deployed position and a retracted position relative to the blunt distal end of the hollow shaft; 
 providing the slidable needle assembly with a needle having a sharp distal tip; 
 bifurcating the slidable needle to form a pair of arms including a first arm that includes the sharp distal tip and a small portion that extends proximally away from the sharp distal tip to form a hook and a second arm that has a bias that tends to make it bend outward relative to the elongated axis and moves at a proximal end thereof relative to the first arm and defines a suture slot between the first arm and the second arm, the second arm being movable between (1) a fully proximate position associated with a first slot size where the actuating rod is in the proximal position and the second arm is at least partially contained within the hollow shaft which holds the second arm, against the bias, so the second arm is spaced from and not against the first arm and so that the arms have a proximate but spaced relationship to maintain a passage for and without clamping the suture and where a distal end of the second arm is substantially aligned with the small portion of the first arm to close the suture slot and prevent the suture from escaping, and with the small portion received in the hollow shaft leaving a small opening beyond the blunt distal end of the hollow shaft to retain the suture and (2) a spaced position associated with a second slot size greater than the first slot size where the actuating rod is in the distal position and the second arm is not contained within the hollow shaft so that the bias moves it outward relative to the elongated axis and where the distal end of the second arm is spaced from the small portion of the first arm for loading the suture into or releasing the suture from the suture slot; 
 penetrating the body wall with the slidable needle assembly in the retracted position and the arms in the proximate position; and 
 advancing the slidable needle assembly to the deployed position to move the arms to the spaced position associated with the second slot size. 
 
     
     
       2. The method recited in  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 forming an opening in one of the arms to provide for side-loading of the suture into the suture slot. 
 
     
     
       3. The method recited in  claim 2  wherein the suture slot has a proximal end and a distal end and the forming step includes the step of forming the opening in proximity to the distal end of the slot. 
     
     
       4. The method recited in  claim 1  wherein the suture slot comprises a round end at least at the distal end of the suture slot.